Simple device and method to return a user to a location

Abstract

A location apparatus for returning to a user to a location including a system unit configured to compute a location using radio signals, a user interface unit having a display area and first and second buttons, a memory unit, and a computational unit configured to interact with the first and second buttons. The computation unit retrieves a first location from the system unit and stores the first location in the memory unit upon selection of the first button by the user. Further, the computation unit retrieves a second location from the system unit and calculates a relative three-dimensional direction from the second location to the first location upon selection of the second button by the user. The relative three-dimensional direction is graphically represented on the display area of the user interface unit.

1. A handheld location apparatus for returning a user to a location, comprising:
 a system unit configured to determine a current location using Global Positional System (GPS) signals; 
 a user interface unit having a display area and first, second, and third buttons, and up, down, left, right, forward, and back indicators; 
 a memory unit; 
 an internal compass configured to determine a direction relative to a magnetic north; and 
 a computational unit configured to interact with the first and second buttons, wherein the computation unit retrieves one of a plurality of locations from the system unit and stores the one of the plurality of locations in the memory unit upon selection of the first button by the user, the computation unit receives the current location from the system unit and calculates a relative three-dimensional direction from the current location to the one of the plurality of locations upon selection of the second button by the user, 
 wherein the relative three-dimensional direction is graphically represented on the display area of the user interface unit using the up and down direction indicators independent of the left, right, forward, and back indicators, wherein the third button is configured to select the one of the plurality of locations, and wherein each of the plurality of locations are identified by a unique location number, and the computational unit is configured to store location information only in response to the selection of the first button by the user; and 
 wherein the left, right, forward, and back indicators are simultaneously activated to represent that the location and one of the plurality of locations are identical. 
 
     
     
       2. The location apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the computational unit further retrieves one of a plurality of directions from the internal compass and stores one of the plurality of directions and one of the plurality of locations in the memory unit upon selection of the first button by the user, and the computational unit further retrieves a direction from the internal compass and graphically represents the direction relative to one of the plurality of directions on the left, right, forward, and back indicators when the location and one of the plurality of locations are identical. 
 
     
     
       3. The location apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the display area of the user interface unit includes a distance indicator to represent the relative three-dimensional distance from the location and one of the plurality of locations. 
     
     
       4. The location apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the display area of the user interface unit further includes a direction indicator, and wherein the computational unit further retrieves one of a plurality of directions from the internal compass and stores one of the plurality of directions and one of the plurality of locations in the memory unit upon selection of the first button by the user, and the computational unit further retrieves a direction from the internal compass and activates the direction indicator when the location and one of the plurality of locations are identical, and the direction and one of the plurality of directions are identical. 
 
     
     
       5. The location apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the display area of the user interface unit further includes a location number display configured to represent the unique location number of the one of plurality of locations selected by the third button. 
     
     
       6. The location apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the user interface unit includes a fourth button configured to delete all of the plurality of locations and directions stored in the memory unit upon selection of the fourth button by the user. 
     
     
       7. A method of returning a user to a location using a handheld radio-based location device, comprising:
 determining a current location using a system unit interacting with Global Positional System (GPS) transmission devices upon selection by the user; 
 storing one of a plurality of locations in a memory unit upon selection of a first button by a user; 
 determining a direction relative to a magnetic north; 
 selecting, by the user, one of the plurality of locations using a third button, wherein the plurality of locations are identified by a unique location number; 
 calculating a relative three-dimensional direction from the determined current location to the selected one of the plurality of locations upon selection of a second button by the user; and 
 displaying the relative three-dimensional direction in a display area using up and down direction indicators independent of left, right, forward, and back indicators, 
 wherein the left, right, forward, and back indicators are simultaneously activated to represent that the location and one of the plurality of locations are identical. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising retrieving one of a plurality of directions from the internal compass and storing one of the plurality of directions and one of the plurality of locations in the memory unit upon selection of the first button by the user; and
 retrieving a direction from the internal compass and graphically representing the direction relative to one of the plurality of directions on the left, right, forward, and back indicators when the location and one of the plurality of locations are identical. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the display area unit includes a distance indicator to represent the relative three-dimensional distance from the location and one of the plurality of locations. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the display area further includes a direction indicator, and further comprising retrieving one of a plurality of directions from the internal compass and storing one of the plurality of directions and one of the plurality of locations in a memory unit upon selection of the first button by the user; and
 retrieving a direction from the internal compass and activating the direction indicator when the location and one of the plurality of locations are identical, and the direction and one of the plurality of directions are identical. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the display area further includes a location number display configured to represent the unique location number of the one of plurality of locations selected by the third button. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 deleting all of the plurality of locations and directions stored in the memory unit upon selection of a fourth button by the user.